Karl Benz Biography

Karl Friedrich Benz was an automobile engineer, engine designer, and entrepreneur from Germany who is remembered for designing the first practical automobile in history, Benz Patent Motorcar. He obtained a patent for it in 1886. A Mühlburg native, Benz grew up in an impoverished family after losing his father when he was quite young. Despite this, his mother made sure that he received a proper education. In 1864, he obtained a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Karlsruhe. Benz subsequently spent seven years acquiring professional training in various companies. In 1871, he co-founded his first factory, the Iron Foundry and Mechanical Workshop in Mannheim, which was later rebranded as Factory for Machines for Sheet-metal Working. During this period, he began developing his early inventions. In 1883, he established the Benz & Cie. to create stationary internal-combustion engines. Following the success of the three-wheeled vehicle, the Motorwagen, the company developed its first four-wheeled car in 1893 and the first of a series of racing cars in 1899. In 1906, Karl founded C. Benz Söhne with his wife and sons. The Benz company united with Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft to create Daimler-Benz, producer of Mercedes-Benz automobiles, in 1926.